Blackberry plant named ‘Camila’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct primocane-fruiting cultivar of Blackberry plant named ‘Camila’ as described and illustrated herein. Distinctive characteristics of ‘Camila’ include its earliness, thornless stems, large sized fruit and sweetness without bitter aftertaste.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Blackberries are a well-known, aggregate fruit enjoyed by manythroughout the world. One example of an existing blackberry variety is‘APF-8’, which is marketed as “Prime Jan®”, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,788.Other examples of existing, patented blackberry varieties are ‘Navaho’,U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679 and ‘APF-12’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,989 whichis marketed as “Prime Jim®”.

Compared to ‘APF-8’ based on some typical results, the present cultivar,‘Camila’ (also known as “HFM-5”), and ‘APF-8’ are bothprimocane-fruiting blackberries, but ‘Camila’ bears fruit on primocanesabout one (1) week earlier than ‘APF-8’. In addition, plants of ‘Camila’have a slightly lower density of spines on the stems and the growth rateis somewhat less than that of ‘APF-8’. The fruits of ‘Camila’ are muchsweeter, with higher firmness, have almost no bitter aftertaste and haveless acidity than ‘APF-8’. The average degrees Brix (° Bx) and percentacidity of the juice of primocane fruits of ‘Camila’ is 15.1° Bx and0.7%, respectively, versus 9.8° Bx and 1.3% for primocane fruits of‘APF-8’. The postharvest quality of primocane fruits of ‘Camila’ is alsohigher than that of the primocane fruits of ‘APF-8’: After seven (7)days storage at 5° C., the primocane fruits of ‘Camila’ are firmer thanthose of ‘APF-8’ with only 27% of berries of the former showing leakingjuice, versus 60% leaking fruits in the case of ‘APF-8’.

Compared to ‘Navaho’ based on some typical results, the presentcultivar, ‘Camila’, bears fruits on both floricanes and primocanes,whereas ‘Navaho’ bears fruits only on floricanes. Accordingly, thefollowing comparisons to ‘Navaho’ involve floricane fruit of ‘Camila’.The vegetative growth of ‘Camila’ is considerably more vigorous thanthat of ‘Navaho’. The canes of ‘Camila’ are erect, thick and thorny,whereas those of ‘Navaho’ are semi-erect, thin, and thornless. Floricanefruits of ‘Camila’ are 5.9 g and 2.8 cm long versus 3.0 g and 1.5 cm for‘Navaho’. The fruit of ‘Camila’ matured four (4) weeks earlier thanthose of ‘Navaho’; the date of first ripening of ‘Camila’ in CentralChile is week 49 (e.g. the second week of December) versus week 1 (e.g.the first week of January) for ‘Navaho’.

The present cultivar, ‘Camila’, provides one or more advantages comparedto these and/or other blackberry varieties such as one or more of anearly maturity and better blackberry fruit for at least some purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing primocane flowers of the Blackberrycultivar ‘Camila’. This photograph was taken on 22 Mar. 2012 (in Chile).

FIG. 2 is a close-up photograph of a primocane shoot of the Blackberrycultivar ‘Camila’ showing primocane color and spine density. Thisphotograph was taken 21 Mar. 2012 (in Chile).

FIG. 3 is a close-up photograph of primocane fruits. This photograph wastaken 16 Feb. 2012 (in Chile).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Note: statements of characteristics herein represent exemplaryobservations of the cultivar herein and will vary depending on time ofyear, location, annual weather, etc. Where dimensions, sizes, colors,and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that suchcharacteristics are approximations and averages. The descriptionsreported herein are generally from specimen plants that were planted inAugust 2008 and later at Nogales, Fifth Region, Chile. References tocolor refer to The R.H.S.—Fifth Edition.

-   Cultivar name: ‘Camila’.-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.        -   Botanical name.—Rubus subgenus Rubus.        -   Common name.—Blackberry.-   Parentage: Note: The parents and ‘Camila’ have not been evaluated    side-by-side. The data about ‘Camila’ is from Chile and the data for    the parents are from Arkansas, USA.    -   -   Female parent.—Name: Name: ‘APF-77’ (proprietary, and            marketed under the trademark Black Magic™). U.S. Plant            patent application Ser. No. 13/374,444 filed 29 Dec. 2011.            Comparing ‘APF-77’ grown in Arkansas to ‘Camila’ grown in            Chile, the average floricane berry weight of ‘APF-77’ is 6            to 7 grams compared to 5.9 grams for ‘Camila’. Floricane            first bloom date and first ripe date for ‘APF-77’ appear to            be about a week to 10 days earlier compared to ‘Camila’: the            floricane first bloom date for ‘APF-77’ is 1 April (Northern            Hemisphere) versus 10 October (Southern Hemisphere) for            ‘Camila’ while the first ripe date for ‘APF-77’ is 2 June            versus 8 December for ‘Camila’. The first primocane bloom            date for ‘APF-77’ is 10 June (Northern Hemisphere) compared            to 20 December for ‘Camila’ (Southern Hemisphere), and the            first primocane ripe fruit are 15 July (Northern Hemisphere)            for ‘APF-77’ compared to 10 February (Southern Hemisphere)            for ‘Camila’. Soluble solids in primocane fruit of ‘Camila’            is 15.1° Brix compared to 10.2° Brix for ‘APF-77’.        -   Male parent.—Name: ‘APF-109T’. US plant patent: unpatented.            Comparing ‘APF-109T’ grown in Arkansas to ‘Camila’ grown in            Chile, ‘APF-109T’ is thornless and has a smaller berry than            ‘Camila’: floricane berries for ‘APF-109T’ average 4.4 grams            versus 5.9 grams for ‘Camila’ berries. The harvest window            for such floricane fruit appears to be similar or perhaps            that of ‘Camila’ would be slightly earlier: the window is            about 16 June (Northern Hemisphere) for ‘APF-109T’ compared            to about 8 December for ‘Camila’ (Southern Hemisphere). The            soluble solids of floricane fruit of ‘Camila’ are higher:            11.3° Brix for ‘Camila’ compared to those of ‘APF-109T’            which are 9.2° Brix.

The cross for ‘Camila’ was made in 2006 near Clarksville, Ark., USA. Itwas a controlled hand pollination of the female parent (‘APF 77’)×APF109T (male parent). Resultant seedlings were germinated in a nurserynear Hijuelas, Fifth Region of Valparaiso, Chile during the southernhemisphere summer of 2006-07. 285 individual seedlings from this crosswere planted in the field near Nogales, Fifth Region of Valpariso, Chilebetween December 2007 and January 2008. The first evaluation of theseseedlings was in early summer (November) 2008 and continued throughApril 2009. The selection that became ‘Camila’ was selected in 2009because the seedling stood out for its very good flavor and the earlymaturity on primocanes.

Camila was first asexually propagated by planting root pieceshorizontally in containers containing a bark/peat mix in August 2009 ina greenhouse in Macul, Santiago, Chile. Etiolated shoots that emergedfrom the root pieces were put in a peat/perlite mix and rooted underhumid conditions (covered by clear polyethylene plastic). ‘Camila’ hasalso been asexually reproduced using in vitro culture. Propagated plantshave retained the original characteristics.

Field observations were made in 2009 and later, mostly in Nogales,Chile, including evaluation over three primocane fruiting cycles and twofloricane fruiting cycles between January 2009 and April 2011. ‘Camila’consistently showed above average horticultural traits and wasconsistently at the top for taste tests for flavor. For firmnessreadings, firmness was ranked by on a scale of one to five, with 1 beingvery firm, and 5 being very soft.

-   General description: The ‘Camila’ blackberry is characterized for    its early fruit maturity, both on floricanes and on primocanes. The    floricane crop begins to ripen during the first week of December    (Central Chile). The primocane crop begins to ripen during the    second week of February (Central Chile). The fruit has very good    (sweet) flavor. The fruit is additionally quite attractive and is    elongate and large. Fruit firmness is not very high, but its    postharvest keeping ability is acceptable and it shows minimal color    change (to red) of the drupelets when put in cold storage. The plant    is healthy, moderately vigorous, and productive. ‘Camila’ is a    thorny variety.-   Average size information: In the study, plants were “pinched” during    growth, so they were not allowed to grow freely. It is estimated    that if not pinch-pruned, the primocanes would reach between about    1.7 and 2.2 m in height.-   Growth: Plants have medium vegetative vigor, and erect growth habit.    ‘Camila’ makes abundant canes, with primocanes emerging both from    the crown of the plant as well as from the roots (as suckers).-   Growth rate: The growth rate is moderate, with canes reaching an    average of 0.8 meters in height within one month of emergence from    the soil in the spring.-   Productivity: High, yields average 2.0 kg and 2.9 kg of fruit per    meter of row, on the floricane and on the primocane cycles,    respectively.-   Cold hardiness: Ultimate cold hardiness is unknown, but in Chile    dormant plants have resisted midwinter lows of −3° C. without    damage.-   Branching height of the plants: Unknown (they are always pinched to    induce branching and never left to grow to their own devices).-   Canes:    -   -   General description.—Erect, thorny, and medium vigor.        -   Cane diameter (indicate point of measurement).—Floricane:            Base: 1.31 cm. Midpoint: 1.04 cm. Terminal: 0.45 cm.            Immature primocane: Base: 0.86 cm. Midpoint: 0.67 cm.            Terminal: 0.33 cm. Mature primocane: Base: 1.25 cm.            Midpoint: 0.84 cm. Terminal: 0.40 cm. Internode length:            Base: 11.44 cm. Midpoint: 7.68 cm. Terminal: 5.01 cm. Thorn            density/30 cm: Base: 21. Midpoint: 15. Terminal: 10.        -   Primocane color.—Base: Light green (yellow-green group            144B+GREYED-RED 180A-B (where sun strikes it)). Midpoint:            Light green (yellow-green group 144C). Terminal: Light green            (yellow-green group 144C.        -   Floricane color.—Base: Green with (yellow-green group 146B)            brownish spots (brown group 200A-B). Midpoint: Green            (yellow-green group 146B-C) with brownish spots (brown group            200A-B). Terminal: Green (yellow-green group 146B-C) with            wine-colored spots (brown group 200B).        -   Date of primocane emergence.—Primocanes emerge during the            first weeks of October (in Chile, at 32° 45′ S. Lat., 220 m            elev.) and continue emerging until the second week of            November.        -   Date of budbreak.—Vegetative budbreak occurs during the            second week of September (in Chile at 32° 45′ S. Lat., 220 m            elev.).-   Foliage:    -   -   General description.—Leaves are green with 3 to 5 leaflets,            leaves are large with double-serrate margins. The adaxial            side of each leaflet is dark green with the veins being            somewhat more yellowish. The abaxial side is lighter green            than the adaxial side, with soft trichomes (indumentum) over            the entire surface. The petioles and petiolules of each            leaflet have one rank of thorns, which extend up ¼ of the            length of the central vein of each leaflet.        -   Leaves.—Width: 16.85 cm. Length: 20.13 cm (including            petiole). Number of leaflets: 3 to 5 per leaf.        -   Leaflet.—Width: 5.23 cm. Length: 9.46 cm (including            petiolules). Margin: Doubly Serrate. Base: Cordate. Apex:            Acuminate. Color: Base Adaxial: Green (yellow-green group            146-A) with the central vein of lighter green            color(yellow-green group 146-B). Base Abaxial: Lighter green            than the adaxial side (yellow-green group 147-B), the            central vein being even lighter green with a yellowish cast            (yellow-green group 144-C). Midpoint Adaxial: Green, veins            of the same color and shade (yellow-green group 146-A).            Midpoint Abaxial: Green (yellow-green group 147-B), but of a            lighter shade than the adaxial side, yellowish colored veins            (yellow-green group 144-C). Terminal Adaxial: Light green            (yellow-green group 146-B), with the veins being the same            color and shade. Terminal Abaxial: Light green, but a            lighter shade than the adaxial side, with the veins being            the same color (yellow-green group 147-C).        -   Petioles.—Length: 10.25 cm. Diameter: 2.8-3.8 mm. Color:            Light Green (with a yellowish cast) (yellow-green group            144-C).        -   Petiolules.—Length: 1-4 cm. Diameter: 1.2-1.5 mm. Color:            Light Green (with a slightly yellowish cast) (yellow-green            group 144-C).-   Flowers:    -   -   Primocane.—Date of bloom: (Central Chile). 10% bloom: 20th            of December. 50% bloom: 30th of December. Last bloom: 2nd            week of January.        -   Unopened buds.—Shape: Length: 8-10 (mm). Diameter: 2.5-3.5            (mm). Color: yellow-green group 144-B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: (mm) 35.8 mm average. Diameter: (mm)            1-2 mm. Color: yellow-green group 144-C.        -   Petal color.—Pure White (white group N155B).        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: The stamens are long, erect,            and numerous. Pistils: Numerous. Pollen: Fertile and            abundant. Ovary: Superior.        -   Flower diameter.—3-4 cm.        -   Petal size.—Width: 1.2 cm. Length: 1.8 cm.        -   Average number flowers per cluster.—6-7.        -   Average number of petals per flower.—5-9.        -   Peduncle length.—5-15 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—1.8-2.8 mm.        -   Peduncle color.—Green (yellow-green group 144-B).        -   Floricane.—There are no material differences noted for            flower dimensions and inflorescence characteristics for            floricanes compared to primocanes, but bloom times for            floricanes are: Date of bloom: (Central Chile). 10% bloom:            10th of October. 50% bloom: 20th of October. Last bloom:            Last week of October.-   Fruit:    -   -   General description.—The fruit of ‘Camila’ stands out for            its good flavor, large size, and low rate of color            regression (to red drupelets) in post-harvest storage. The            ratio of soluble solids to acidity averages 19 on floricane            fruits and for primocane fruits, the ratio averages 23 (both            values on plants grown at the experimental plot at Nogales,            Chile). On both the floricane and primocane fruits there is            no noticeable bitter aftertaste that is typical of eastern            blackberries. The level of reversion of drupelets to a red            color in postharvest storage (5° C.) is low. The fruits have            an attractive appearance. They are elongated in shape and            large in size. The firmness is medium, but it is acceptable.        -   Primocane.—Average first ripe date: 10th of February (for            plants grown under shade cloth at 50% shade) at Nogales,            Fifth Region of Valparaiso, Chile. This ripening date is            seven (7) days earlier than ‘APF-8’ under the same            conditions. The primocane harvest lasts for approximately 50            days. Size: Large (8.4 g on average). Diameter: Equator:            2.05 cm. Base pole: 2.11 cm. Terminal pole: 1.92 cm. Length:            3.01 cm. Shape: Oblong (Elongate). Drupelet size: Medium            (0.42 cm average). Drupelets per fruit: average of 140.            Fruit Color: black group 203-A. Seed size: Small (Length            (2,5-3 mm) by width (2 mm). Firmness: medium. Flavor: Very            good, sweet, without bitterness. Soluble solids: 15.1° Bx.            pH: Not measured. Acidity: 0.7%. Processed quality: Not            evaluated. Uses: Fresh Market. Prickles: None.-   Floricane: Average first ripe date: 8th of December (for plants    grown under shade cloth at 50% shade) at Nogales, Fifth Region of    Valparaiso, Chile. This date is approximately 35 days before    ‘Navaho’. The floricane harvest lasts for about 35 days. Size:    Medium (5.9 g on average). Diameter: Equator: 2.03 cm. Base pole:    21.4 cm. Terminal pole: 1.84 cm. Length: 2.85 cm. Shape: Oblong    (Elongate). Drupelet size: Medium, 0.39 cm. Drupelets per fruit: not    measured. Fruit Color: not measured (but should be the same as for    primocanes). Seed size: Small not measured (but should be    essentially the same as for primocanes). Firmness: Medium, similar    to the blackberry cultivar APF-12 but firmer than ‘APF-8’. Flavor:    Sweet and very good flavor. Soluble solids: 11.3° Bx. pH: Not    measured. Acidity: 0.6%. Processed quality: Not evaluated. Uses:    Fresh Market. Prickles: None.

Thus, in some aspects, the ‘Camila’ blackberry is characterized byhaving early ripening both on floricanes and primocanes. The fruitsthemselves are also distinctive in that they have excellent flavor,large size, elongated shape and are visually attractive. Furthermore,the fruits have a low rate of color reversion (to red) in cold storage.The plant has good vigor and high productivity. Fruit characteristicsare similar on both primocanes and floricanes, except that primocanefruits are sweeter, have higher yields, and are larger than thefloricane crop.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Blackberry plantnamed ‘Camila’ as described and illustrated herein.